From My Commonplace Book

"You are indeed the heirs of a remarkable legacy~ a legacy that has passed into your hands after no little tumult and travail; a legacy that is the happy result of sacrificial human relations, no less than of stupendous human achievements; a legacy that demands of you a lifetime of vigilance and diligence so that you may in turn pass the fruits of Christian civilization on to succeeding generations.  This is the essence of the biblical view, the covenantal view, and the classical view of education.  This is the great legacy of truth which you are now the chief beneficiaries."~ Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch

"The world is a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."~ Oscar Wilde

"I have been feeling very much lately that cheerful insecurity is what our Lord asks of us."~ C.S. Lewis

"It is like walking up an escalator or swimming with the current~ to beget children, to love children, to encourage their growth, to ease their sufferings, and to suffer oneself with them even to our death . . . But the chilling truth is that industrialism brings on a paralyzing gluttony and greed in which the quality of life is quantified.  Paradoxically you cannot afford to have children in the affluent society.  The world has never been so rich and wretched as in these air-conditioned Edens where another child would sap the payments on the second car. . ."~ John Senior, The Death of Christian Culture

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ February 8, 2015

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter (as is usual on a Sunday night).

{Pretty}

Want to see my new terrarium?

Ta-da!

I had a terrarium when I was a teenager, and when I saw some on the web recently-ish, I wanted another.  But naturally I didn't want to spend much money.  I managed to scrounge everything but the plants themselves, so I was pretty happy.  I found this glass container in the storeroom (it was my in-laws').  Perfect!  I had to try several stores before I found two different kinds of succulents~ I guess they are in high demand now~ for a total of $8.  There was (never used) aquarium gravel in the storeroom too.  That storeroom is a treasure trove!  I got some moss out of the yard, and also a big rock (which you can't see in the picture).  I always have potting soil on hand.  A piece fell off the big plant when I was handling it, so I found this little pot and the little dish it's sitting on in the~ where else?~ storeroom!

Is it a sign that I lack personal depth that doing little things like this disproportionately boosts my spirits during the most dreary month of the year?

The big rock from the yard and also a piece
of coral from~ you guessed it~ the storeroom!

{Happy}

February is a dreary month, except our family celebrates two birthdays.  First up was Hannah's, and it was a big one.  She turned 18!

Blurry picture, cute smile!

*~*~*~*~*~*

For all the dire predictions that this winter was going to be like the last one, it has in reality been warm and decidedly, conspicuously non-snowy.  Granted, last year we were in northern Illinois and now we are in central Missouri, but predictions of direness were being made for here.  Behold the snow we received this week, which is indicative of the amount of snow we have received a total of three times so far:

Pretty ho-hum, but the birds were very active at the feeders.

{Funny}

The snow was Wednesday.  By Thursday it was melted, and by the weekend we had highs of 70.  Dave and I took advantage of the warm days to take a walk on the Katy Trail.  We weren't the only ones:

Minnie needed a little rest before she resumed looking for her owner.

*~*~*~*~*

Thanks for visiting! 

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ February 1, 2015

Hello, everyone! Welcome to a new installment of {phfr}!

{Pretty} and {Happy}

This is the time of year I am most tempted to buy flowers.  From the violets and daffodils of April to the poinsettias of December, there is usually something floral going on in the yard, except in the case of the poinsettias, which I buy, of course.  I saved this year's amaryllis for January, but alas, it has bloomed its last.  I was flowerless.  That is, until I saw these little sweeties at Aldi for 99 cents.  At that price, I bought two.  They are heartening, aren't they?

Pink primrose in the plant room . . .

. . . and orangey-red on the kitchen windowsill.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I'm making curtains for the entryway from this lovely, lovely fabric.  I went to Jo-Ann and narrowed the semi-finalists down to about six, and from there I chose three finalists, and this eventually emerged the winner.  It's "Spring Floral" from Legacy Studios.  I'm so happy with it, I bought more for the kitchen window.  The red/orange color matches the (quite intense) wall color.  I'll show you when I'm finished.

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{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ January 25, 2015

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for {phfr}.

{Pretty}

This little corner looks warm and cheery even when it's bleak and dreary outside.  The green is a welcome sight in January!

{Happy}

When we moved into Dave's mother's house, I found this under the sink.  I don't know how hold it is or what it's original purpose was, but we use it to hold . . .

The dishwasher soap!  It's perfect!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Everyday, I video chat with my granddaughters, which usually includes singing and reading.  Lately it's been "Frosty the Snowman" and "Best Friends for Frances."  It makes me happy and I think it makes them happy too!  (Well, I don't think Verity minds one way or another since she's only five months old, but I think Arane likes it.)

{Funny}

I should probably not think this is funny, but poor Verity is amusingly pitiful in this picture!  Nothing was seriously wrong, don't worry.  She just had the baby grumps. :)

{Real}

Not all the plants in that corner are green . . .

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ January 18, 2015

It's all {pretty} and {happy} this week!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It only took me a little while to cut and sew these pillows for the couch.  Never mind that I bought the fabric six months ago . . .  They look great (if I do say so myself) and add a much needed touch to the room.

                                                                 *~*~*~*~*~*~*

See, see?  (as Arane says).  Bluebirds!  One morning there were at least four~ possibly more~ they are hard to count~ bluebirds checking out the house in the yard.  Alas, they don't seem to have moved in permanently, but I was thrilled to see them at all.  For all Missouri has designated the eastern bluebird as the state bird, I sure haven't seen any in all my fifty-one years until now.  I wish I could have gotten better pictures, though.  Here's to hoping they come back!

                                                                   *~*~*~*~*~*~*

My mother gave me an amaryllis bulb for an early Christmas present, but I waited to plant it so that it would bloom in January.  It's in bleak January, not December with her holiday warmth and glowing lights, that I most want flowers and color.  I'm so glad I waited!

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Beauty Around the House

Master bedroom.  Yes, the walls really are orange. . .

Winter Sky

Lovely Stillness

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas . . .

 . . . I finally get back to blogging!  Here is our Christmas 2014 in pictures. We spent a little over a week at Elizabeth and Justin's and celebrated Christmas with them and their two little elves.

Everyone has to get in on the cookie-making, even if only to watch!
(ETA: Arane is definitely helping.  She likes to stir and crack eggs.  Hannah and Verity are watching. :)  )

And, of course, the cookies have to be tested to be sure they are good enough to share.

Opening Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve.

A pink tricycle!  Oh, joy!

Christmas crackers!

Peek a boo!

I see you!

Verity and Grandma

The carseat blanket fully deployed . . .

Reading with Auntie Hannah.

Just chillin' on Auntie Hannah's lap.